Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Katherine Noblet of Johnson City, Tennessee, is one of those lucky individuals with repeated wintering hummingbird visitors. This year, she has a Rufous female wintering in her yard and frequenting the two nectar feeders she makes available.

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

Mark Armstrong, Master Bander of hummingbirds and songbirds from Knoxville, Tennessee visited her home on November 26th to trap and band the hummingbird for a positive identification of the species and to record the birds health, age and other identifying characteristics.

Above and below, you see Mark setting the trap on a portable table in the area where the feeder normally hangs. The pink ribbon you see at the bottom left of the trap marks the bottom of the trap door that he raises and lowers with fishing wire. He will next place the feeder inside the trap (shown below), raise the door by holding it up with the fishing wire, and position himself away from the feeder, releasing the door when the hummer goes inside to feed.

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

Once the hummingbird goes inside, the door is lowered, the hummer is removed and briefly placed in a mesh bag until Mark is in position to band it. Below, Kathy Noblet takes a close look at the hummer she has been watching and photographing since November 11th. Janie Kading, Mark's wife and recording assistant holds the hummer.

Mark is skillful and efficient with his work, placing the band on the hummingbird's leg, while Jane records the band number and the measurements obtained. The examination process lasts about ten minutes.

Below, Mark takes a wing measurement. Wing measurements can distinguish species, as well as, distinguish males from females. The female Allen's species looks very similar to the female Rufous and the two are hard to distinguish in the field. They both have green feathers on their backs and rufous in their tail feathers. Wing measurements and width and shape of tail feathers are two distinguishing characteristics that separate the two species.

A tail measurement is taken below. The Rufous species breeds in northwestern North America, in Idaho, Oregon and north to Alaska, and primarily winters in northern and central Mexico.

Wintering hummingbirds reported in the southeastern United States in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee have been documented since 1988 by Bob and Martha Sargent of the Hummer Study Group. Their records show a rapid increase in the number of wintering hummingbirds, as well as, a "clumping" distribution in the southeastern states.

Above, Mark examines the beak to help determine the age of the bird. Grooving in the beak indicates a juvenile bird, while no grooving indicates a mature bird. Kathy's Rufous female is a mature bird. Below, you see the Rufous coloration and shape of the tail feathers, helping to confirm that this individual is a Rufous female.

Kathy's location in Johnson City, Tennessee, is one of the areas that is attracting wintering hummingbirds that migrate from western breeding areas. In 2008 she had a male Rufous and the first Calliope recorded in the area. Again in 2011, she had an immature male Rufous that frequented her feeders from October 21-December 13. This year she had a Rufous visit briefly November 1st, and the female pictured here, arrived November 11th and continues to visit her feeders.

Not all of the hummingbirds that are sighted in Tennessee will remain here. Many Rufous Hummingbirds are also being reported in North Carolina.

Above, you can see the gorget feathers that appear on this female's throat. Each individual female has its own arrangement and number of gorget feathers.

Above and below, Mark places the hummer in Kathy's hand for release. True to the nature of many Rufous individuals, she remains still until she recognizes she is free.

Kathy's photo below shows the female perched in a nearby tree just after release.

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

The female visited a feeder soon after her banding session and the photo below shows her visiting the porch feeder later in the day. Kathy has a creative blind that she has made from foam core board, the backing often used for framing art. She cut the board to a size that slides into the frame of her storm door windows, and added an opening equipped with a curtain through which she can insert her camera lens. This allows her to photograph the hummer from inside the house without disturbing it and without the obstruction of window panes. Her blinds have allowed her to obtain beautiful images of the hummingbird as it visits her nectar feeders.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Wintering Rufous hummingbirds are being reported throughout east and middle Tennessee, and have been arriving since August, keeping Mark Armstrong, the Master Hummingbird Bander in the eastern part of the state, very busy.

I had the pleasure of accompanying Mark and his wife and assistant, Jane, as they traveled the two hours to northeast Tennessee on November 24th to band wintering hummingbirds. Our first stop was Erwin, TN, to visit with Candy Casey (below) who is a new birder and was excited about her first opportunity to see a hummingbird upclose.

In the image above, Mark is opening the mesh bag that holds the hummingbird briefly after its capture.

Mark first checks for a band on the bird's leg and if no band is present, he affixes a tiny numerically engraved band on the right leg. The band number with information about the hummingbird is then reported to the Bird Banding Lab in Patuxent, Maryland, the central location for U.S.bird banding data. These bands are invaluable to scientists who are studying the migration patterns, survivalship and health of bird populations.

The hummer is held in a stocking while it is banded to help keep it calm. You can see how tiny the band is in the image above.

Female Rufous Hummingbirds often have a cluster of gorget feathers on their throat, unlike the Ruby-throat female which has a clear throat. Each feather cluster is distinct and the number of orange-red feathers that appear vary considerably among individuals. The light is striking the feathers in the image above just right to show the beautiful orange-red irridescence of the feathers.

Below, Mark is measuring the hummingbird's beak with a digital measuring instrument. Each of the measurements he takes helps to identify the sex, age and species of the bird.

It was through telling a friend about the hummingbird that Candy learned about Bob Sargent's Hummer Study Group website and contacted Bob to report the hummingbird. Bob, in turn, encouraged her to contact Mark. The Hummer Study Group has provided a central location for reporting the presence of western hummingbirds in the east, the most common of which, is the Rufous species.

Another view below of the throat gorget feathers. The light striking the feather determines its color. Sometimes the feathers appear green or gray. `

Below, Mark is examining the beak with magnifying lens and a hand magnifying loop. He looks for grooving in the beak to determine the age of the bird. Grooving indicates the beak is still maturing and the bird is in its first year after hatching. A beak that has no grooving indicates that the bird is more mature. This female is a mature bird with no grooving in her beak.

The gorget feathers are counted, below, and recorded, also, as a general characteristic of this individual.

Below, mark is blowing through a straw to part the feathers on the belly. He is looking for indications of fat. Fat in the belly area indicates that the bird is feeding well, and is healthy. He explains that most of the Rufous Hummingbirds he has banded in Tennessee have a healthy amount of body fat and are clearly finding the nutrition they need in Tennessee's winter habitat.

The recognition that a possible race of the Rufous Hummingbird species may be genetically programed to migrate to the southeastern United States is beginning to change our notion of hummingbirds and their winter hardiness. Sargent believes, and his studies indicate, that successive generations of these Rufous hummingbirds are migrating and wintering in the eastern U.S. and that reports of their presence will increase with each season.

Presently, wintering areas seem to be in clusters of favored habitat and birders who report these wintering hummers seem to have successive winter arrivals of birds, both immature and adult. It is not certain what habitat qualities are attracting and sustaining them through the winter in Tennessee, but it is certain habitat selection is closely related to food sources. Sap wells and insects attracted to sap wells are one known source of nutrients during cold months. Additionally, as more and more birds are located and banded, we will begin to have a better understanding of the wintering habits of this species.

Female Rufous Hummingbirds are difficult to distinguish from the Allen's species that also have green backs and rufous in their tail feathers. Banders examine the tail feathers for the distinguishing shape and width of the feathers to confirm the identification.

Mark gives the hummer access to nectar before releasing it and she eagerly laps.

Candy holds the bird for release. Above and below, the hummer rests in Candy's hand until it recognizes that it is free to fly. When it does fly, a few seconds later, it leaves with a loud chirp and wing buzzing.

We stayed to witness the hummer returning to the deck feeder for another drink. Candy has a clear view of the nectar feeder from her windows and will enjoy seeing this hummer visit her feeder as long as it remains in Tennessee. By recording the date of the bird's arrival and the last time she sees it this winter, she will have an idea of when to begin watching for this Rufous female's return next fall. Rufous Hummingbirds tend to return to the same wintering area year after year, as long as the habitat offers good food sources.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

After high winds yesterday of up to 45 mph and an early morning low of 23°F, the probable Rufous female hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) at the home of Katherine Noblet, in Johnson City, has weathered the cold front just fine.

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

Last night Katherine reported on TN-Bird: "My hummer is roosting in the interior of a large holly shrub that is about 6 feet from my feeder. She is feeding about every 15 minutes and looks cold and nervous. I think she will probably spend the night in the holly. The shot in the holly is taken through several panes of glass and it is very low light!"

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

This morning Katherine sent the images below with the message: "Alive and alert."

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

In his October presentation about wintering hummingbirds, Master hummingbird bander, Mark Armstrong, described wintering Rufous hummers that he has banded as healthy, molting and growing new feathers, having a good level of fat, and clearly fairing very well in the east Tennessee winter climate. These hummers depend on natural sources of nectar, insects, and tree sap to sustain their diet in the winter.

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

Rufous hummingbirds are the most common hummingbirds found in Tennessee in the fall and winter months, but you typically will not see them unless you leave a nectar feeder out. Mark says that there are always hummingbirds that stray from the traditional migration route, but the numbers of Rufous hummingbirds found in the east does not fit a random or accidental picture. In 2011-2012, over 500 Rufous hummingbirds were banded in Alabama and Northern Florida, and 400 in Louisianna. In east Tennessee, Mark personally banded 20 Rufous Hummingbirds in the 2012-2013 winter season.

Bob Sargent has been banding Rufous hummingbirds in the east since the 1980's and his research suggests that a hardy strain of Rufous Hummingbirds is developing that is genetically programmed to winter in the southeast. The Rufous species traditionally breeds in the northwest, and migrates through the southwest to winter in Mexico.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Western hummingbirds began arriving in Tennessee as early as August, but they are illusive and difficult for banders to capture that time of year while there are so many insects and flowers available for foraging. Autumn has settled in now, and presently Katherine Noblet, of Johnson City, TN (Carter County), has a possible Rufous female visiting her feeder.

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

The female could either be a female Rufous Hummingbird or a female Allen's Hummingbird. Females in both species are indistinguishable in the field but have differences in their tail feathers that can be identified in the hand of a bander. The Allen's female has more narrow outer tail feathers.

Katherine has had Rufous hummingbirds visit her home in the past, and while we wait for a positive ID on this bird, she is getting some gorgeous images.
Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

Some individual females of both Rufous and Allen's species have partial gorgets, as shown above, and females of both species have green feathers on their backs!

Photo credit: Katherine Noblet

A mature male Rufous, below, is currently wintering at the home of Tommy and Virginia Curtis in Smithville, TN (DeKalb County) in middle Tennessee. This male has been present for two weeks. The Curtis family had an over-wintering Rufous hummingbird in 2004-2005 that stayed for 108 days, from Nov 26-March13. In 2006 they had an immature Rufous present from Dec1-Dec11. An immature Ruby-throated hummer was present at their feeder from Nov 10-16 in 2012, and the current wintering Rufous was first sighted October 30th. They will be adding a heat lamp to the feeder tomorrow to keep the nectar from freezing.

Photo credit: Tommy and Virginia Curtis

And below, a Calliope Hummingbird, located in the Nashville area, arrived on October 27th. This is believed to be the same Calliope that appeared in 2012 and was present from October 12th until sometime in April of 2012. At that time he was found to be a hatching year bird and Scott describes him as much more spectacular as an adult! Visit this link to see his appearance last year: Calliope

Photo credit: Scott Somershoe

Calliopes are the smallest hummingbird normally found in the United States and the only hummer to have dark purple-red gorget feathers on a white background in a shape that resembles an inverted V.

Tommorrow morning (Nov 12th) a strong cold front is moving into middle Tennessee (Nashville and Smithville areas) bringing advisories for 20-30 mph winds, gusting up to 45, a mix of sleet, rain, snow, with night temperatures plummeting to 19° F . That same front will be pushing east into northeastern Tennessee and the Johnson City area later in the day.

One wonders why these hummers are finding their way to Tennessee instead of the warmer climates of Mexico, their traditional winter home. Despite the cold weather that is typical of Tennessee winters, each year brings more hummingbird sightings than the year before.
A special thank you to Katherine Noblet, Tommy and Virginia Curtis, and Scott Somershoe for the use of their images in this blog post.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

These birds are so much fun to watch, especially their bouncing stance. I feel fortunate to have a pair of wrens that frequent my garden and my patio area, flying in low to the ground to explore the garden, the logs around it, the edges of the house and any pots or plants tucked in the corners.

I've heard bird bander's comment on the strong grip of their feet, but not until I witnessed this wren bathing recently did I completely appreciate the strength of that grip!

Raccoons visit my yard at night and frequently turn over the bird bath. I sometimes hear the "kerplunk" if I'm sitting in the living room reading. I try to discourage them by putting a pan of water on the ground at the edge of the patio. It worked last night. They triggered the movement sensor of the porch light, though, and I looked out to see two of the cutest fellows climbing the posts to the deck and peering over the cross beam, clearly in search of seeds or suet. They found none!

The last time I heard the bird bath fall over, the chimes also started ringing. I looked out that time to see a raccoon hanging upside down from the cross beam checking out the chimes for food! I have to admit they make me smile.

When I filled the bird bath the next morning, I filled it too full, even though there are some rocks in it, placed there for smaller birds. The water was too deep for this determined little wren, but that didn't stop him from taking his bath just the same.

As you scroll through the images below, notice that he never lets go of the rim of the bird bath!

He grips the edge, lowers his sides into the water and flicks his wings and tail to splash water over his back.

Needless to say, after watching his efforts, in the future, when the bird bath is actually level (which is rare), I won't be filling it so full!

Bird-banding at Seven Islands State Birding Park--2014

Bird-banding at Seven Islands

Enjoying Gray Jays in Churchill!--2014

Smithsonian National Zoo with one of my Whooping Crane banners and son, John--2014

The Incredible Muir Woods near Stinson Beach, CA--2014

Photo courtesy of Wendy Pitts Reeves

Me and Denali--2012

Photo courtesy of Bob King

For the Love of It...

...the sage sees heaven reflected in Nature as in a mirror, and he pursues this Art, not for the sake of gold or silver, but for the love of the knowledge which it reveals.Sendivogius (1750)

Your Uncapped Creativity...

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. You must keep that channel open. It is not for you to determine how good it is, nor how valuable. Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is for you to keep it yours, clearly and directly." ----the great dancer, Martha Graham

Tennessee's Majestic Sandhill Cranes

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Vickie Henderson

Artist, writer, photographer and nature enthusiast, I blog about the experiences that inspire my art. My posts include nature observations and my love for the creative process. For more information about my art visit my "More About Me" page.

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Whooping Cranes

Whooping cranes were on the brink of extinction in the early 1940's with only 15 remaining in the population that migrates from their nesting grounds in Canada to the coast of Texas. Today, after many years of help, this population has reached a record number of 266. In order to safeguard this species, biologists are using an innovative method to imprint captive reared Whooping cranes and teach them to migrate behind ultralight aircraft. In this way, Whooping cranes have been restored to the Eastern flyway and a separate wild migrating population has been established. As more and more people have the privilege of seeing these birds, Whooping cranes have become ambassadors for our wetlands and for all species in need of our assistance. Support our wildlife. Select a favorite project, a favorite place, a favorite species and do your part to help our natural world.